Former quarterback gambled by Dallas Cowboys in trade for 2023 fourth-round pick is seen as a major flop for Cowboys

Dallas, TX – June 18, 2025

Buckle up, Cowboys Nation, because we’re diving into one of the most gut-punching missteps in recent Dallas history. Remember when Jerry Jones rolled the dice on Trey Lance, trading a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 for the former No. 3 overall draft pick? That “lottery ticket” turned out to be a dud, and it’s safe to say this gamble ranks among the Cowboys’ biggest flops. With Dallas charging toward the 2025 playoffs, the Lance saga still stings, and fans aren’t holding back.

Lance, now 25, was supposed to be the shiny new toy—a dual-threat quarterback with sky-high potential to back up Dak Prescott or maybe even steal the show. Instead, his two-year stint in Dallas was a masterclass in disappointment. From head-scratching preseason meltdowns to zero meaningful snaps, Lance’s tenure is a cautionary tale of hype gone wrong. As he struggles to find his footing with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, Cowboys fans are left shaking their heads, wondering how it all went so south.

The Trade That Sparked Hope—and Crashed Hard

When the Cowboys snagged Lance in August 2023, the move sent shockwaves through the NFL. The 49ers had given up a king’s ransom to draft him third overall in 2021, but a brutal ankle injury in 2022 and Brock Purdy’s rise left Lance expendable. Jerry Jones, ever the gambler, saw a chance to snag a high-upside QB on the cheap. A fourth-round pick? Pocket change for a guy once touted as the future of football, right?

Wrong. Lance arrived in Dallas with confidence already battered. He’d started just four games in San Francisco, completing 54.9% of his passes for 797 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, per Pro Football Reference. Cowboys fans, hyped by visions of a mobile QB tearing up defenses, gave him the benefit of the doubt. “He just needs time,” tweeted @StarNation88 in 2023. “Jerry’s playing 4D chess!”

But time didn’t help. Lance spent 2023 and 2024 buried on the depth chart behind Prescott and Cooper Rush. His lone chance to shine came in the 2024 preseason finale against—ironically—the Chargers. The result? A nightmare performance with five interceptions, tying an NFL preseason record for futility. “I’ve seen high school QBs with better reads,” posted @DallasDiehard on X. The game sealed Lance’s fate: Rush locked down QB2, and Lance became an afterthought.

Why It Fell Apart

To be fair, Lance didn’t get much of a shot in Dallas. He never saw regular-season action, logging zero pass attempts in two years. The Cowboys’ coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, leaned heavily on Prescott’s veteran presence, leaving Lance to develop in practice. But reports from training camp painted a grim picture. The Athletic’s Jon Machota noted in 2024 that Lance struggled with accuracy and decision-making, often sailing passes or locking onto receivers. Sound familiar? It’s the same story now haunting him in Chargers camp, where he threw a “boneheaded” pick in OTAs, per Daniel Popper.

Lance’s defenders argue he was set up to fail. A 2022 ankle injury that cost him a full season left scars, and the 49ers’ quick pivot to Purdy crushed his confidence. “Dallas didn’t give him reps to grow,” tweeted @CowboysTruth. “Jerry bought a Ferrari and left it in the garage.” But others aren’t buying it. Lance’s inability to outshine Rush—a career backup with a 62.7% completion rate—raised red flags. “If you can’t beat out Cooper, you don’t belong,” posted @BigD_Fanatic.

The Cowboys’ front office isn’t off the hook either. Jones’ love for splashy deals blinded him to Lance’s risks: limited college starts (17 at FCS-level North Dakota State), a major injury, and a playbook mismatch with Dallas’ pass-heavy offense. Trading a fourth-rounder—potentially a starter like current nickel corner Caelen Carson—was a steep price for a project QB who never panned out. “Jerry’s gotta stop chasing shiny objects,” ranted @LoneStarLoyal on X.

The Fallout and What’s Next

Lance’s exit in 2025, signing a one-year deal with the Chargers, marked the end of a forgettable chapter. In Los Angeles, under Jim Harbaugh’s no-nonsense coaching, Lance is fighting for QB3 behind Justin Herbert and rookie DJ Uiagalelei. Early reports aren’t kind—his OTA interception, thrown while drifting left with “severe underthrow,” echoes his Dallas woes. If he can’t impress in camp, Lance risks another year on the bench, or worse, out of the NFL.

Back in Dallas, the Cowboys are rolling with an 8-3 record in 2025, led by Prescott’s 3,200 passing yards and a defense anchored by Micah Parsons. But the Lance trade lingers like a bad hangover. That fourth-round pick could’ve bolstered depth at tackle or linebacker, positions exposed by injuries to Tyler Smith and DeMarvion Overshown in 2024. “We could’ve had a real contributor instead of a QB who threw picks for fun,” tweeted @CowboysRant.

Jones, never one to admit defeat, called the trade “a learning experience” in a 2024 Dallas Morning News interview. But fans aren’t so forgiving. “Jerry sold us dreams and gave us nightmares,” posted @StarFan4Life. Some even compare Lance to past Cowboys QB busts like Quincy Carter, though Carter at least started 31 games.

As Dallas eyes a deep playoff run, the Lance debacle is a reminder of the fine line between bold and reckless. Cowboys Nation still believes in Prescott, Parsons, and CeeDee Lamb to deliver that elusive Super Bowl. But the ghost of Trey Lance? That’s one bet Jerry Jones—and every fan—wants to forget. Stay locked with FanHub for all things Cowboys as they chase glory in 2025!